Court convicts welder for defiling minor

An Upper Area Court Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Thursday convicted a 32-year-old welder, Emmanuel Joseph of defiling an eight- year- old girl.

The convict, who resides in Gosa Area of Abuja, was charged with indecent assault.

The Judge, Malam Sani Umar, convicted Joseph after he pleaded guilty and deferred his sentencing to Aug. 17.

Umar admitted the convict to bail in the sum of N300, 000 with one reliable surety in like sum, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He said that the surety must deposit the sum of N70, 000 to the court for the security of the bail and provide valid means of identification.

He said that the surety must provide two recent passport photographs and the address verified by the court staff.

Umar said that the reason for deferring the sentencing and granting the convict bail was for him to pay in full the N35,000 spent by the victim’s mother in the hospital to treat the victim from bruises she sustained from the act.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr. Abdullahi Tanko told the court that the complainant Mary Gambo of Gosa Angwan Tiv, airport road Abuja reported the matter at Iddo police station on June 9.

Tanko said that the convict who was the complainant’s boyfriend, on June 6 assaulted her eight year old daughter.

He said that the offence contravened the provision of Sections 285 of the Penal Code.